text; un: romano

[badlydisarmed]

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Hello Etraya, a few of the newest arrivals are originally from wherever we told you we're from, but before coming here we were in Etraya's sister city, Solmara. Solmara has overthrown their AI and is ruled by a woman named Alrys. She sent us here on a recon mission to steal supplies, and while some of us were considering it, upon arrival we decided not to.

I can't speak for the others, but I know for a fact if Alrys got wind of what this place is like, she'd start a war. I'm not interested, not because I'm kind and noble (I'm not) but because making two whole cities miserable would be stupid.

Aurora has been informed of everything, but in the interest of transparency I'm letting the rest of you know too.

We will be answering questions but only if they're not stupid and you're super nice about it. Keep in mind we're probably gonna get tortured then killed then tortured again for snitching. 😃❤️🥳👍🚀🦈

PS: Any magical healers out there?

(The PS is not included on the things we will be answering questions about)

Comments

[clavesregni]

If she's capable of getting four people into Etraya, she must already know how to get here. A lone assassin trying to kill her will likely only lead to more problems in the long run, but surely a recon mission of our own – a small handful of people going to Solmara to collect information on Alrys, her plans, and her capabilities – would be better than simply sitting here preparing for an unknown number of invaders with unknown weapons and, potentially, unknown magic, arriving at an unknown time.

Better to arm ourselves with information as well as weapons.

[ascarylady]

Not without knowing more from these assholes first. We need a better idea. We need a map. A way in, a way back out. Names of who we could ally with. I am not willing to go into something like this blindly, and you shouldn't be either.

You'd only be throwing lives away.

I'd rather see if Aurora can bolster defenses first. Find a way to block mystery people from sneaking in. If she can do that, then dealing with Solmara may not even be necessary.

[clavesregni]

I'm not asking you to go. And I don't intend to go anywhere myself without formulating a plan first.

Of course we ought to bolster our defenses, but we can't count on that to protect us entirely from every threat for the duration of our stay here. We don't know the full extent of Alrys' capabilities, which means we don't know what she could do to break down or sneak through any defenses Aurora might create.

And we can't ignore that there are near-starving people in Solmara who don't want to live under Alrys' heel. How could we close our doors, lock ourselves away, and pretend they don't need help?

[ascarylady]

[ Only she would go, even unasked, but she isn't going to admit as much. ]

Your bleeding heart is going to end with you bleeding out to death, Kiramman.

We need to think of ourselves first. Whatever fucked up experiment this Echo freak is pulling, it clearly doesn't care about anyone's well-being if Solmara is that messed up. We slip up and let this Alyrs chick's army in, no one is coming to save us in turn.

[clavesregni]

You would have us stay here, build a fort around ourselves, and hope that's enough to address the problem, all while ignoring the plight of those suffering beyond our walls?

[ascarylady]

You get one taste of what it's like to be the downtrodden one, and now you want to run around playing hero? Saving everyone? Give me a break.

I want to make sure WE are protected first. We can consider what else to do after. Not that is matters what we argue about. Neither of us are in charge here. No one is.

[clavesregni]

A small team could go and return quickly, and gather the information necessary to plan our next moves, while you stay here and work to ensure that Etraya is protected.

You're right that no one is in charge here. I don't need your permission.

[ascarylady]

You will need Aurora's permission, though.

[ Presumedly. ]

But if you think I'd let you trounce off to cause problems, think again. IF you get permission, I will be going. You're liable to walk right up to that entire army and tell them they're under arrest like an idiot.

[clavesregni]

[Before responding, Caitlyn spends about twenty full real-life seconds indignantly protesting to the empty room she's in that no, she really definitely would not at all do that.]

Very well. We'll go together.

[ascarylady]

[ It's almost as if Sevika can hear it from all the way where she is... ]

Yeah. IF we go.